Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-06-17
Col. Hooker Remarks Accepting the
Monument.


Nc. President: want first, in the name
Of every Vermont soldier, 10 thank the cit
liens Of Brattleboro for the generous unan-
unity with which they appropriated the
necessary amount to erect n soldiers mon
ument ! say in the name Of every Yer
mont soldier, for we all consider Brattlebor1
a. our soldier home.
To the architect who buildcd even better
than he knew, our thanks are also due to
the artist, for the perfect figure Of a sol
der our gratitude Is eXpr -ssed 10y our pres
ence here today; to the builders, one Of
whom was an old soldier, for the workman
like execution-every Nermonter will feel
proud that they belong 10 our state 10 the
selectmeu, this monument is witness Of
the honest and faithful manner in which
they have executed the trust reposed in
them
Now Mr.. President, in behalf of the sol
diers and citizens had best say citizens.
for We are all citizens now, holding that as
the highest title under tins free government
i accept this trust, and IN their name say
that a long as granite shall endure this
monument shall be revered and protected
1t stands not alone commemorative of
brave deeds and a heroism uneguRled in the
history of our race, but also a silent
teacher Of patriotism and love Of country.
The citizens Of Brattleboro feel Just
pride in the record they made during the
war Of the rebellion. Our honored presi-
dent today-the war governor Of Vermont
enacted a part in those dark days that
will live in history long after the clods Of
the valley have pressed him to his eternal
rest. When our martyred President, the
immortal Lincoln, and his cabinet were
sore pressed, and cabinet meeting after cab
met meeting had been held to consider the
question Of men and means, Mr.. Lincoln
came into the council room one day, his
face illumined with smile as only his face
could be- and said "The problem is solv-
ed. have a letter frem the governor of
Vermont, in which he says, Make your
call Vermont will put her quota into the
field armed and equipped, and furnish the
money TO pay the monthly rolls, trusting
the general government for reimbursement
The rebellion must be put down." The
President, with the advice of his cabinet,
despatched Gen. Draper, provost marshal
general, 10 our own fair town to carry into
execution the offer of Gov. Holbrook He
came and, after a short consultation, Gov.
Holbrook prepared letter 20 the Presi-
dent, offering men and money, which he
signed, Gen. Draper then took the letter
to the patriotic Andrew of Massachusetts
he read and signed then u the faithful
Buckingham of Connecticut, he read and
signed then 10 the calm aud resulute Nor
gan Of New Nork,-he read and signed I:
then to the war horse, Curtin of Peunsyl-
yania,-he read and signed The contents
OF the letter were then telegraphed to the
governors of the other loyal states. and bv
them approved. The call for BOG, 600 men
was made, and Vermont was the first state
in the Union u respond say all honor to
Gov. Holbrook for the lustre lac gave 10 the
fourteenth star in the galaxy of states
or the men who went from Brattlehoru
10 the field | would say word. Gen John
W. Phelps, Surgeon Geo. +. Gale, Quarter
master X, W. Clarke, we're among the first
10 offer their services. ! remember Il fair
faced, fair haired boy, Drawer than he was
fair, who fell wounded in the Wilderness
Col John ). Tyler who when the men
were taking him 10 the rear, after two had
been wounded and his own boot was full of
blood, said Boys, leave me 10 die You
are needed at the front" How ftlv the
words Of distinguished writer apply when
he says, Immortal fame awaits only when
the deed and the cause are alike glorious "
Addison Brown, jr,, Dennic w. Farr, both
modest, but made of stuff that stood the
test Luke w. Kendall, killed in the VII
derness, had a sublime courage that knew
the danger, but faced il still until it led him
70 death. | know of soldier who, wound
ed in the Wilderness and still suffering from
his wounds left the convalescent camp
against the positive orders of the surgeon.
joined his regiment in the Valley and in a
few days was again badly wounded-Maior
Elijah Wales, more TO me upon the field of
battle like the heroic Stannard than any
soldier whom / know. The first Vermont
soldier killed was Benz W. Russell of this
town place his name high up ON the roll
OF lame, and let coming generations emu
late his bravery. Chas. b. Rice, who unit
ed calm dignity with a high moral cour-
age, was wounded at Bull Run and taken
prisoner, and the seeds of disease then sown
finally laid him in a soldiers grave. One
OF the truest men who fell at any point was
Gleason who received his death-wound as
he was imparting 10 his men that GOODNESS
and courage which he possessed in great
degree. Most Of you remember Kirk Rand
than whom no Drawer soldier or truer-
hearted comrade ever lived. Whenever l
see Uncle Israel Wood, | think Of his two
boys, Chester NJ, aud Lewis A, who gave
their lives that liberty might be enthroned
forever. Another boy you sent TO the field
boy though he was we soon found that
under the exterior there was "a manliness "A
irmness, coupled with generous heart
that stamped him as one fitted 70 command
Vermont sent no better soldier TO the field
than VIM q. Holbrook Henry L. Cooley
VIM. W. Clark, Thos e. Bartlett. Dennis
Mahoney, Elisha Keables Kelley. and per-
haps score of others, died breathing a
] uraUar for horna aud ,,.,...-- mn . =